A French connection

The Alliance Française de la Jamaïque has opened its new location at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) Papine Campus, forecasting a 20 per cent rise in teaching and cultural activity thanks to increased space and visibility. Its presence at the university’s Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), together with UTech’s longstanding partnership with the French Embassy, is expected to attract new learners and broaden students’ access to global opportunities.

The opening ceremony on March 20 – timed to coincide with the International Day of La Francophonie – brought together government officials, educators, diplomats and members of the Francophone community. The relocation to the TIC marks a further step in deepening Jamaica’s educational and cultural ties with the Francophone world. Enrolment for the new term begins in two weeks.

For nearly 70 years, the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque has provided French-language instruction to learners of all ages, from beginners to candidates preparing for internationally recognised certifications such as the DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française), the official French-language diploma awarded by the French Ministry of Education.

With experienced teachers, engaging classes and a vibrant cultural programme, the Alliance ties language learning to broader cultural exploration. Its mission is to promote the French language while encouraging dialogue, curiosity and cross-cultural understanding.

In his address, Dr Kevin Brown, president of UTech, highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership with the Alliance Française. “This collaboration reinforces our ability to expose students to global languages and cultures, while supporting opportunities for international mobility.” He noted that the partnership aligns with the university’s mission of supporting the holistic development of students.

“Although we’re STEM-focused, we appreciate the importance of the arts,” Brown said. He added that having the Alliance on campus strengthens the integration of technology, the arts and innovation. “We already have a well-established language centre at the university and so, by having Alliance Française on campus, it strengthens our ability to expose our students to other languages and we look forward to their participation in the courses being offered here.”

Brown also acknowledged former French Ambassador Olivier Guyonvarch for initiating the idea of relocating the Alliance Française office to the campus. “He shared a vision to bring the Alliance Francaise into a closer partnership with our university, and we have embraced that vision,” Brown said.

He further recognised the former ambassador’s support in establishing a skateboarding facility at the institution, and thanked current French Ambassador Marianne Ziss for continuing to advance the partnership. “I think he had a vision to bring a lot of things closer to UTech. We now have a skateboard group here as well,” he added. “I think that embrace between this university and all things French will continue with Her Excellency Marianne Ziss, the new ambassador, who has certainly taken up the baton and continues to advance these discussions.”

In her remarks, Ambassador Ziss described the relocation of the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque to the TIC as both “pragmatic” and “forward-looking”. The move, she said, reflects “a shared ambition” between the Alliance and UTech, bringing Jamaica and France together through education, culture and shared values.

She also announced plans, through the French Embassy, to introduce the celebration of La Fête de la Musique in Jamaica, as well as specialised training in diplomatic French for professionals, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

WINDOW TO THE WORLD

Emphasising the power of language in bridging cultures, Mylène Ferriera, president of the Alliance Française, stated, “We are giving Jamaicans the tool to speak to the heart of 300 million people worldwide,” noting that French is now “the fourth most spoken language in the world” and a gateway to international engagement.

At its new home in the TIC, the Alliance Française de la Jamaïque will function as a comprehensive cultural and educational hub. “It’s our window open to the world,” Ferriera said, adding, “It’s also a home for literature, with our French literary collection upstairs, where young students can borrow French comic books, or more advanced students can explore the richness of French literature.” She noted that the organisation will continue to promote local artists through initiatives such as the Film of the Month and the Library Series.

Commenting on the strong bilateral relationship between Jamaica and France, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, said, “Today’s ceremony reflects the strong bonds of friendship that Jamaica and the Republic of France have forged since the establishment of diplomatic relations,” citing collaboration in areas such as trade, climate change and disaster recovery. She also expressed gratitude for France’s “swift and compassionate response” in providing humanitarian aid after Hurricane Melissa.

Johnson Smith also welcomed ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s language capacity and educational exchange, including training opportunities for French teachers and diplomats.

Also addressing the ceremony, Everton Hannam, secretary general of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO, said that housing the Alliance Française at the TIC “situates language and culture within a dynamic ecosystem of innovation, research, and enterprise”.